Yameen says he doesn't believe Muizzu intends to jail him

Former President Abdulla Yameen has said he does not believe President Dr Mohamed Muizzu intends to imprison him, despite suggestions made by some supporters at a gathering of the People's National Front (PNF).

Yameen made the remarks on Sunday night during an event at the PNF office after several speakers suggested he could face imprisonment to prevent him from contesting the next presidential election.

Interrupting the discussion, Yameen said he did not believe President Muizzu intended to send him to prison.

Yameen, who is currently facing a money laundering trial, said it was former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, rather than President Muizzu, who was responsible for his previous imprisonment.

"It was not President Muizzu who kept me in prison. It was former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih who kept me in jail," Yameen said.

He added that Solih had acted on political calculations.

"Therefore, I will not believe that even if Muizzu is cruel, he would do such a thing," he said.

Yameen also said he believed President Muizzu carefully considers the political implications of his decisions. According to Yameen, even those within the former Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) who disagree with him would understand that imprisoning him would not be politically beneficial.

"So, I will not believe that it would be in Muizzu's mindset to keep me in prison," he said.

Yameen was serving an 11-year prison sentence in connection with a case linked to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) when he was transferred to house arrest after President Muizzu took office.

The High Court later overturned the Criminal Court's 2022 conviction in the V. Aarah case and ordered a retrial. The retrial is ongoing, and Yameen remains at liberty while the case proceeds.